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QRCode.js

A small JavaScript library that draws QR codes in a web page, with no dependencies.

GitHub Download source
Stars
14.3k
Forks
4.7k
Licence
MIT
Language
JavaScript
Last update
2.5 years ago
Type
Library

No commits in over a year — check for forks or alternatives before adopting.

What it is

QRCode.js is a JavaScript library that generates QR codes inside a web page. You give it some text or a link and a container element, and it draws the code using HTML5 Canvas or a table in the DOM. The README says it has no dependencies and lists a wide range of browsers, including old Internet Explorer versions.

  • Display a QR code linking to a web page on a product or event page
  • Generate a code with custom width, height, and dark and light colors
  • Replace the displayed code by calling makeCode with new text
  • Clear a displayed code with the clear method

Great for

  • Web developers who want to show a QR code for a URL on a page
  • Developers maintaining sites that must support older browsers
  • Projects that want to avoid adding extra libraries

Not ideal for

  • People who want a ready-made QR code tool without writing code, since this is a library for developers
  • Teams needing actively maintained support, because the README gives no recent version and the last push shown is from May 2024
  • Use cases needing a server-side or command-line generator, since the README only describes browser usage
Step-by-step guide: how to use QRCode.jsInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

How to get it

  1. 1

    See the README

    Clone the repository

    git clone https://github.com/davidshimjs/qrcodejs
  2. 2

    Run it

    • Clone the repository or download the library file.
    • Add a container element to your HTML page with an id, such as a div.
    • Include the script in a script tag on the page.
    • Call new QRCode with the container element and your text to draw the code.
  3. 3

    Get the most out of it

    • Set correctLevel to QRCode.CorrectLevel.H for higher error correction, as shown in the README example
    • Adjust width, height, colorDark, and colorLight to fit your design
    • Use makeCode to update the same code for new text without creating a new instance
    • Use clear to remove the current code from the container

Downloads

Source code (.zip)master branch · straight from GitHub

Strengths

  • The README says it has no dependencies
  • It works in browsers using either Canvas or table markup
  • It is MIT licensed and has a large star count (14,320)

Trade-offs

  • The README gives no install instructions, version number, or release history
  • The last push shown is 2024-05-01, so upkeep status is unclear
  • The README is brief and does not document every option

Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.